Legal Practice

The Importance of Health and Safety in the Liability of Employers for Damages

Published:
2022-07-06
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Selected Style: APA
Tóth, K. (2022). The Importance of Health and Safety in the Liability of Employers for Damages. Pro Futuro, 12(1), 175-191. https://doi.org/10.26521/profuturo/2022/1/11314
Abstract

Employers are deemed responsible for the health and safety of their employees while they are at work. This study's focus is the exemption from liability based on the foreseeability principle introduced to the Labour Code in 2012. Despite the proclaimed policy change, courts have remained reluctant to grant immunity to employers based on Article 166 of the Labour Code in case of workplace accidents. The uncertainty of interpretation hinders the execution of the new policy and questions the importance of proper health and safety measures implemented by employers to avoid liability. The study focuses on recent case law and employers' practice. The first part analyses the conclusions establishing business decisions of the employers, further investigating the cost performance conduct: pay a fine or spend on safety and health measures. The second part of the study examines cases related to workplace accidents, which are divided into five groups. This group's special attention given to liability in case of extreme weather conditions, third-party accidents, work safety rule violations, accidents, employers' inspection obligations, and other cases.